Colombo Urban Lab - Enhancing Sri Lanka's Urban & Public Policy Development

COLOMBO URBAN LAB

Our Work

Living Off-Grid Food and Infrastructure Collaboration

This five country research explores the infrastructure - nutrition nexus among urban poor communities in Asia and Africa. We are looking at how communities’ access to basic services impact their diets.

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

FRESH is a multi-partner research led by IFPRI. It employs an end-to-end approach to increase fruit and vegetable intake, improve diet quality, while improving livelihoods and mitigating negative environmental impacts.

Understanding and Advocating for a Just Recovery for Colombo’s working class communities

We look at the impact of the pandemic and economic crisis at a household and livelihood level and use this evidence-based research for our advocacy on improving social security.

How can physical space be inclusive and be planned for diverse users?

Public space ranges from parks to markets to the street. We look at how Colombo’s public spaces are affected by development ideologies and planning decisions - and how that impacts people.

Living Off-Grid Food and Infrastructure Collaboration

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Understanding and Advocating for a Just Recovery for Colombo’s working class communities

We look at the impact of the pandemic and economic crisis at a household and livelihood level and use this evidence-based research for our advocacy on improving social security.

How can physical space be inclusive and be planned for diverse users?

Public space ranges from parks to markets to the street. We look at how Colombo’s public spaces are affected by development ideologies and planning decisions - and how that impacts people.

Living Off-Grid Food and Infrastructure Collaboration

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Understanding and Advocating for a Just Recovery for Colombo’s working class communities

We look at the impact of the pandemic and economic crisis at a household and livelihood level and use this evidence-based research for our advocacy on improving social security.

How can physical space be inclusive and be planned for diverse users?

Public space ranges from parks to markets to the street. We look at how Colombo’s public spaces are affected by development ideologies and planning decisions - and how that impacts people.

Living Off-Grid Food and Infrastructure Collaboration

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Understanding and Advocating for a Just Recovery for Colombo’s working class communities

We look at the impact of the pandemic and economic crisis at a household and livelihood level and use this evidence-based research for our advocacy on improving social security.

How can physical space be inclusive and be planned for diverse users?

Public space ranges from parks to markets to the street. We look at how Colombo’s public spaces are affected by development ideologies and planning decisions - and how that impacts people.

COLOMBO URBAN LAB

Knowledge Articles

Latest research and writing by CUL

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Borrowing To Eat: The Impact of Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis on Colombo’s Working Class Poor

Colombo Urban Lab's policy brief on Sri Lanka's economic crisis highlights increased household debt and social security in working-class poor communities, highlighting the unique challenges faced by these families, despite the seemingly normal streets.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Dirty Business: Reading modernity in Colombo’s fish markets

The promise of a modern fish market complex is merely a promise, as the old market is significantly worse.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

Anchoring meaningful community participation at the heart of nature-based solutions in cities

Nature-based solutions (NbS) aim to repair, sustain, and protect ecosystems while addressing societal challenges. They include biodiversity conservation, erosion control, wetland reforestation, climate change mitigation, food and water security, among others.

Learn more about activities and events related to our research and advocacy

Submission to PUCSL Stakeholder Consultation October 2023 on proposed electricity tariff revision

Colombo Urban Lab submitted concerns and recommendations to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka’s stakeholder consultation regarding the increase of 22% sought by CEB.

Global Campaign on Universal Social Security

Colombo Urban Lab is part of a global coalition advocating for universal social security for all, and a new socio-economic contract.

Panel discussion at the National Convening on Debt and Women’s Human Rights

Iromi Perera was a speaker at this event in August 2023, and spoke about household debt among Colombo’s working class families and pathways for recovery.

Policy Lab - Integrating Equity and Reframing Urban NbS in South Asian Cities

The need for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) that integrate equity and address the unique challenges of South Asian cities was the focal point of this event.

Submission to PUCSL Stakeholder Consultation October 2023 on proposed electricity tariff revision

Colombo Urban Lab submitted concerns and recommendations to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka’s stakeholder consultation regarding the increase of 22% sought by CEB.

Global Campaign on Universal Social Security

Colombo Urban Lab is part of a global coalition advocating for universal social security for all, and a new socio-economic contract.

Panel discussion at the National Convening on Debt and Women’s Human Rights

Iromi Perera was a speaker at this event in August 2023, and spoke about household debt among Colombo’s working class families and pathways for recovery.

Policy Lab - Integrating Equity and Reframing Urban NbS in South Asian Cities

The need for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) that integrate equity and address the unique challenges of South Asian cities was the focal point of this event.